Counting every person in the United States in a census every 10 years is a challenge. But counting every infant and toddler in the country may be one of the most challenging parts of the job. Parents and adults with young children often don’t realize they need to include all children who live with them fulltime or at least most of the time.

In the 2010 Census, nearly 1 million children (4.6% of children under the age of 5) were not counted, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, children under age 5 are one of the largest groups of undercounted people in the United States.

Counting young children will be vitally important in the 2020 Census because population statistics are used by local, state, and federal lawmakers to determine how to spend billions of dollars in federal and state funds annually over the next 10 years. Much of that money funds programs that directly affect children. They include nutrition assistance, Head Start, special education, foster care, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and housing assistance to help a child’s family.

This February 4, 2020 census meeting focused on multicultural outreach and the importance of counting everyone – and that everyone counts in a welcoming community. The discussion of strategies to encourage robust Census participation included a question-and-answer session. Speakers included Mayor Kincannon, Tim Kuhn (Director of the Tennessee State Data Center), and Cesar Bautista (Youth Organizer, Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition, TIRRC).

Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a population count of everyone in the United States. The 2020 Census will begin in mid-March 2020, when households are contacted through the mail about completing Census forms.
Census 2020 will represent the first time in history that people may submit their forms electronically.
In addition to determining the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives, the information collected will determine how federal and state funding is distributed to Tennessee and to the local governments of the City Knoxville, Knox County, and the Town of Farragut.

Getting an accurate count in next year’s U.S. Census is important to Knox County, Knoxville and Farragut. The Census is used to draw congressional district lines, and analyses show that a significant undercount can cost our three local governments several million dollars each year in federal funds that are collected and redistributed back to communities.

Over the 10-year span until the next Census is conducted, tens of millions of dollars are at stake. In the coming months, anticipate seeing nonpartisan educational information about Census 2020 and why a full and complete count matters.

This local webpage – also accessible at www.CountMeInKnox.com – was created in July 2019. Here, you can find details about the Census timeline, Frequently Asked Questions, links to the national Census 2020 website, videos explaining how the Census shapes our future, and even information on Census jobs that pay $19.50 an hour. When local Count Me In Knox events are scheduled, details will be available on this page.

• August-October 2019 - Address Canvassing Starts and Area Census Offices open
• Early 2020 - The Census Bureau started counting the population in remote Alaska
• March 12-26, 2020 - Households received official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
• April 1, 2020 - This is Census Day, a key reference date for the 2020 Census—not a deadline. We use this day to determine who is counted and where in the 2020 Census. When you respond, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020, and include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home. You can respond before or after that date. We encourage you to respond as soon as you can.• Mid April - The Census Bureau mailed paper questionnaires to homes that had not yet responded online or by phone.• April 16 – June 19 - Census takers will work with administrators at colleges, senior centers, prisons, and other facilities that house large groups of people to make sure everyone is counted.• May 27 – August 14 - Census takers will interview homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
• December 31, 2020 - Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
• April 2021 - Redistricting counts are delivered to states